Editing Amyl nitrite (section)

==Physiological effects==
[[File:An early container of Amyl Nitrite, Hunterian Museum, Glasgow.jpg|thumb|An early container of amyl nitrite, Hunterian Museum, Glasgow]]

Amyl nitrite, in common with other [[alkyl nitrites]],<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Nickerson M, Parker JO, Lowry TP, Swenson EW | title = Isobutyl Nitrite and Related Compounds. | location = San Francisco California | publisher = PHARMEX | date = 1979 | url = http://www.virusmythpoppersmyth.org/isobutyl_nitrite_and_rela/files/IBNtextnpttypepad.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927023207/http://www.virusmythpoppersmyth.org/isobutyl_nitrite_and_rela/files/IBNtextnpttypepad.pdf | archive-date=2007-09-27 | edition = 1st }}</ref> is a potent [[vasodilator]]; it expands [[blood vessel]]s, resulting in lowering of the [[blood pressure]]. Amyl nitrite may be used during cardiovascular stress testing in patients with suspected hypertrophic cardiomyopathy to cause vasodilation and thereby reduce [[afterload]] and provoke obstruction of blood flow towards the aorta from the ventricle by increasing the pressure gradient, thereby causing left ventricular outflow obstruction. Alkyl nitrites are a source of [[nitric oxide]], which signals for relaxation of the [[Cardiac muscle|involuntary muscles]]. Physical effects include decrease in blood pressure, headache, flushing of the face, increased heart rate, dizziness, and relaxation of involuntary muscles, especially the [[blood vessel]] walls and the [[internal anal sphincter|internal]] and [[external anal sphincter]]. There are no [[Drug withdrawal|withdrawal]] symptoms. [[Overdose]] symptoms include [[nausea]], [[emesis|vomiting]], [[hypotension]], [[hypoventilation]], [[dyspnea|shortness of breath]], and [[fainting]]. The effects set in very quickly, typically within a few seconds and disappear within a few minutes.  Amyl nitrite may also intensify the experience of [[synesthesia]].<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Cytowic R | author-link1 = Richard Cytowic | title = [[The Man Who Tasted Shapes]] | date = 2003 | publisher = MIT Press | isbn = 978-0-262-53255-6 }}</ref> Amyl nitrite, when given as a medication for patients with angina, can also be administered as an ampule. The ampule is put in a gauze pad and then inhaled by the patient during an angina attack and repeated every fifteen minutes. However, oral dosing of amyl nitrite is ineffective due to poor absorption and extensive hepatic metabolism. Amyl nitrite has been widely replaced by [[Nitroglycerin (medication)|nitroglycerin]] for the treatment of acute angina.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}